Model year record

2016 BMW X3

5 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 154 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 24V608000

Electrical system: wiring: connectors/plugs/receptacles

Component
Electrical system: wiring: connectors/plugs/receptacles
Manufacturer
BMW of North America, LLC
Vehicles affected
720,796
Reported to NHTSA
2024-08-13
Owners notified
2025-03-28

Defect description

BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.

Safety risk

An electrical short increases the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the water pump and plug connector as necessary, and install a protective shield, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2025. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Recall campaignNHTSA 21V907000

Fuel system, diesel

Component
Fuel system, diesel
Manufacturer
BMW of North America, LLC
Vehicles affected
50,404
Reported to NHTSA
2021-11-19
Owners notified
2022-07-06

Defect description

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2018 328d, 328d xDrive, 2014-2018 328d Sports Wagon, 328d xDrive Sports Wagon, 2014-2016 535d, 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d SAV, and 2014-2017 X5 xDrive35d SAV diesel vehicles equipped with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) module with an integrated cooler. The EGR cooler may leak internally, causing coolant to mix with diesel engine soot, which could result in smoldering particles and a melting intake manifold.

Safety risk

A melting intake manifold increases the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will replace the EGR cooler and inspect the intake manifold, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 18V-755. Vehicles previously recalled under 18V-755 will need to have the new remedy performed for this recall. An interim owner notification letter was mailed on January 18, 2022. The remedy is expected to be available in June 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 6, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Recall campaignNHTSA 21V586000

Fuel system, diesel: delivery: fuel pump

Component
Fuel system, diesel: delivery: fuel pump
Manufacturer
BMW of North America, LLC
Vehicles affected
11,216
Reported to NHTSA
2021-07-29
Owners notified
2022-01-14

Defect description

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2018 328d, 328d xDrive, X5 xDrive35d, 2014-2016 535d, 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, and 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d vehicles. The high-pressure fuel pump may fail.

Safety risk

Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will replace the high-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 14, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Recall campaignNHTSA 18V755000

Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: gas recirculation valve (EGR valve)

Component
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: gas recirculation valve (EGR valve)
Manufacturer
BMW of North America, LLC
Vehicles affected
44,368
Reported to NHTSA
2018-10-25
Owners notified
2019-05-13

Defect description

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2018 BMW 328d and 328d xDrive, 2014-2018 328d Sports Wagon and 328d xDrive Sports Wagon, 2014-2016 535d and 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d SAV and 2014-2017 X5 xDrive35d SAV vehicles equipped with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) module with an integrated cooler. If the EGR cooler leaks internally, the coolant can mix with diesel engine soot. The high EGR temperatures may result in these particles possibly smoldering and melting the intake manifold.

Safety risk

The melting intake manifold can increase the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer remedy

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the EGR cooler as necessary. If a leak has already occurred, the engine intake manifold will also be replaced. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began May 13, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Recall campaignNHTSA 16V333000

Child seat: latch strap

Component
Child seat: latch strap
Manufacturer
BMW of North America, LLC
Vehicles affected
188,668
Reported to NHTSA
2016-05-23
Owners notified
2016-07-13

Defect description

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2011-2017, X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i and X3 xDrive35i, vehicles manufactured July 2, 2010 to April 14, 2016, 2015-2017 X3 xDrive28d vehicles manufactured March 10, 2014 to March 31, 2016, and 2015-2017 x4 xDrive28i, X4 xDrive35i and X4 xDriveM40i vehicles manufactured March3, 2014 to April 15, 2016. The affected vehicles have lower anchor bars for securing child restraint seats that may become damaged when using the European-ISOFIX-type, rigid-style connector, child restraint system.

Safety risk

Damaged lower anchor bars may increase the child's risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will weld a reinforcing bracket to the lower anchor bars and the vehicle body, free of charge. The recall began on July 13, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Electrical system35
Engine and engine cooling25
Engine1740,000 mi
Unknown or other1418,000 mi
Power train1238,924 mi
Service brakes1014,500 mi
Fuel system, diesel855,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system5
Seat belts529,000 mi
Air bags414,500 mi
Steering470,000 mi
Vehicle speed control413,000 mi
Structure: body214,500 mi
Tires227,299 mi
Wheels2100 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: other fuel types: turbo/supercharger: hoses/plumbing170,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: gas recirculation valve (EGR valve)1
Exterior lighting1
Firerelated188,500 mi
Seat belts: critical fasteners1

The 2015 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2017 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Open investigations

An investigation is not a recall. It indicates that NHTSA is currently evaluating an alleged defect but has not reached a final determination.

EA23001High pressure fuel pump failure

Fuel system, diesel: delivery: fuel pump

EA21002Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.